Matrose to skipper
A matrose already meets 48% of what the skipper role asks for. The move turns on 27 required skills not yet in the profile.
67.9/ 100
1 How much of what a skipper is expected to do is already part of a matrose’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the skipper role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A skipper role treats 26 of its required skills as things a matrose already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways
- assess stability of vessels
- assess trim of vessels
- distinguish various types of ships
- ensure integrity of hull
- ensure vessel compliance with regulations
What stands in the way is 27 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 29 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A skipper role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a matrose background worth leading with.
- already held navigate European inland waterways working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held inland waterway police regulations business, administration and law
- already held inland waterway ship building engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation assisting and caring
- already held secure cargo in stowage handling and moving
- already held steer vessels working with machinery and specialised equipment
All 29 carried skills, including the 26 the skipper role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 34 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn analyse reports provided by passengers required
- still to learn calculate the amount of cargo on a vessel required
- still to learn conduct analysis of ship data required
- still to learn distinguish ship construction methods required
- still to learn ensure vessel security required
- still to learn use meteorological information required
- optional, not held analyse travel alternatives optional
- optional, not held maintain updated professional knowledge optional
- still to learn assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation required
- still to learn monitor crew members operating engines required
- still to learn compose stowage plans required
- still to learn coordinate the itineraries of vessels required
- still to learn manage vessel cargo activities required
- optional, not held create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
- still to learn conduct water navigation required
- still to learn plot shipping navigation routes required
- still to learn recognise abnormalities on board required
- still to learn use radar navigation required
- still to learn use water navigation devices required
- still to learn ensure safe loading of goods according to stowage plan required
- still to learn restrict passenger access to specific areas on board required
- still to learn prepare safety exercises on ships required
- optional, not held verify qualifications of water transport crew optional
- still to learn instruct on technical shore-based operations required
- still to learn communicate mooring plans required
- still to learn provide on-board safety training required
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
- still to learn international waterways required
- still to learn national waterways required
- still to learn principles of cargo stowage required
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a skipper role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation practise this
- 02 instruct on technical shore-based operations practise this
- 03 monitor crew members operating engines practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 29 skills that carry over
- already held adhere to traffic regulations on inland waterways skill
- already held assess stability of vessels skill
- already held assess trim of vessels skill
- already held distinguish various types of ships skill
- already held ensure integrity of hull skill
- already held ensure vessel compliance with regulations skill
- already held european classification of inland waterways knowledge
- already held inland waterway police regulations knowledge
- already held inland waterway ship building knowledge
- already held international regulations for cargo handling knowledge
- already held manage environmental aspects of inland waterway transportation skill
- already held manipulate sails on vessels skill
- already held national regulations on handling cargo knowledge
- already held navigate European inland waterways skill
- already held passenger transport regulations knowledge
- already held physical parts of the vessel knowledge
- already held provide first aid skill
- already held read stowage plans skill
- already held secure cargo in stowage skill
- already held steer vessels skill
- already held undertake navigation safety actions skill
- already held use modern electronic navigational aids skill
- already held vessel fuels knowledge
- already held vessel points of sail knowledge
- already held vessel safety equipment knowledge
- already held vessel stability principles knowledge
- already held act reliably skill
- already held implement environmental protection measures skill
- already held secure ships using rope skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn multimodal transport logistics required
- still to learn functions of vessel deck equipment required
- optional, not held have computer literacy optional
7 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held analyse travel alternatives optional
- optional, not held verify qualifications of water transport crew optional
- optional, not held create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement optional
- optional, not held have computer literacy optional
- optional, not held maintain updated professional knowledge optional
- optional, not held manage staff optional
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
48 held skills the skipper role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles skill
- not needed by the target role anchors used in inland water transport knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply regulations on cargo transport operations skill
- not needed by the target role assist anchoring operations skill
- not needed by the target role clean parts of vessels skill
- not needed by the target role communicate reports provided by passengers skill
- not needed by the target role comply with checklists skill
- not needed by the target role engine components knowledge
- not needed by the target role execute safety assurance exercises skill
- not needed by the target role facilitate safe disembarkation of passengers skill
- not needed by the target role follow procedures in the event of an alarm skill
- not needed by the target role follow verbal instructions skill
- not needed by the target role follow written instructions skill
- not needed by the target role help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations skill
- not needed by the target role influence of winds and currents in the steering of ships knowledge
- not needed by the target role launch lifeboats skill
- not needed by the target role load cargo onto ships skill
- not needed by the target role maintain ropes skill
- not needed by the target role maintain service record book skill
- not needed by the target role maintain vessel engine room skill
- not needed by the target role maintain vessel technical equipment according to instructions skill
- not needed by the target role manage on board hazards skill
- not needed by the target role moor vessels skill
- not needed by the target role operate life-saving appliances skill
- not needed by the target role operate marine communication systems skill
- not needed by the target role operate vessel engine room skill
- not needed by the target role paint ship decks skill
- not needed by the target role perform daily maintenance on ship machinery skill
- not needed by the target role perform manual work autonomously skill
- not needed by the target role perform services in a flexible manner skill
- not needed by the target role perform vessel maintenance and cleaning skill
- not needed by the target role prepare engine room for operation skill
- not needed by the target role prepare simple meals on board skill
- not needed by the target role prevent damage to electrical devices on board skill
- not needed by the target role principles of combustion engines knowledge
- not needed by the target role principles of mechanical engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role show intercultural awareness skill
- not needed by the target role steer ship in compliance with helm orders skill
- not needed by the target role swim skill
- not needed by the target role types of cargo knowledge
8 further entries not listed here
5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn functions of vessel deck equipment required
- still to learn international waterways required
- still to learn national waterways required
- still to learn principles of cargo stowage required
- still to learn multimodal transport logistics required
Common questions about this move
Can a matrose become a skipper?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A matrose already covers 48% of what a skipper is expected to do: 29 skills carry over, 26 of which the skipper role treats as required.
What skills does a matrose need to become a skipper?
27 required skills are missing, plus 7 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is assume highest level of responsibility in inland water transportation.
How hard is the move from matrose to skipper?
Its learning distance is 67.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.